Bolognese Bliss: Crafting the Perfect Ragù alla Bolognese

Ragù alla Bolognese, is a classic Italian meat sauce that pairs wonderfully with pasta. Here’s an authentic recipe for this delicious dish:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small/medium carrot, finely chopped
• 1 small celery stalk, finely chopped
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 Kilo of low fat mince meet
• 700g of tomato passata
• 100g of tomato puree
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 2 litres of portable water room temperature
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 canned plum tomatoes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
• Cooked pasta of your choice

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the finely chopped carrot, celery, and onion. Cook until the vegetables are soft and the onion is translucent.
2. add 1/4 cup of red wine, cook until all red wine has evaporated.
3. Add the ground beef and pork to the pot. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and cook until it’s browned and cooked through, pour off an excellent liquid and dispose off appropriately, or cook of any excess liquid
4. Pour in the remaining of red wine and let it simmer until it’s evaporated.
5. add plum tomatoes, tomato puree, passata and 1 litre of water, add a pinch of salt to help enrich the flavour of the tomatoes. ( no need for much, for as some passatas contain an high amount of salt)
6. Allow sauce to simmer for 2-3 hours, after the first hour add another litre of water, allow to cook until sauce has a thick texture ( before serving we shall use a cup of full fat milk to create a smooth creamy texture).
7. Once your sauce has thickened remove from heat
8. Start boiling your water for pasta, add salt, we use sea salt, and the water should taste salty like the Mediterranean Sea
9. Once you have a rolling boil add your pasta and cook aldente (slightly firm, usually the minimum cook time on your pasta), once cooked, save half a cup your pasta water, drain your pasta and wash with fresh water.
10. Gently warm up your sauce and add a cup of milk.
11. Mix in your cooked pasta add 1/4 cup of pasta water, more of less depending on the thickness of your sauce, allow pasta to warm up.
12. Turn off all hobs
13. Serve your authentic Pasta Ragu with freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top.

Enjoy this hearty and flavorful Italian classic!